Suction cleaner



W. V. ORR.

sucnou CLEANER.

. APPLICATI'ON nuso MAR. 14. I921. Iieiwmd July 25, 1922. 15,423.

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.W. V. ORR.

SUCTION CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, I921.

Reissued J uly 25, 1922.

, plan view porting the casing;

UNITED STATES. PATENT caries.

winmanf v. can, or CLEVELAND, onio.

SUCTION ctnaimn.

15,423. Original No. 1,346,972, dated July 20,

Specification of Reissued Letters Iatent. fieis d J l 25 192 1920, Serial No. 142,837, filed January 17, 1917. Application for reissue filed March 14', 1921. Serial No. 452,298.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM citizen of the United States, Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and V. ORB, a

State ofOhio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Suction Cleaners. of which the following is a. full, clear,

and exact descr1p'tion,-reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates .to suction cleaners or vacuum cleaning devices of ,the type wherein a casing having therein a motor and a suction device ismoved "about. over the floor so as to present its-inlet mouth to every part thereof. The objects of the invention are, the provision of a device of this character having new and improved means for agitating the floor covering and removing lint and litter therefrom; the pro-- vision of new and improved means for op erating such agitating mechanism; the provision of new and improved means for supthe provision of new and improved means for regulating the height of the inlet mouth above the floor covering; while other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. In the drawings accompanying and forming a art of this application, wherein I have il ustrated one embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete device, a portion of the nozzle being broken away so as to show the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view take at one side of the fan chamber and showing depressed position; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view taken from the same direction as Fig. 2 and showing the nozzle in its most elevated osition;Fig. 4 is a bottom of t e complete device; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the ar-- residing at the nozzle in its most.

' the, present embodiment the fan casing and motor are intended to be supported with thelr axis substantially horizontal, although it Wlll be understood that the improvements hereafter to be described can equally well be applied to cleaners of other-"construction. The collecting nozzle has an upper wall 5 and. a lower wall 6 both of which pro'ect forwardly and downwardly from the orward side of the fan chamber, the opening 7 into the fan chamber being included between them. The wall 6 terminates in a straight horizontal lip 8 substantially perpendicular .to the cleaner axis,- and the wall 5 terminates. at its forward end in a depending 11p 9 spaced considerably forward from the lip 8 and preferably substantially parallel thereto. These two lips have defined between them' an inlet mouth, the plane of whose edgesit will be seen is subitganiially parallel to the axis pf the cham- The ends of the month are defined by walls which first run forwardly from the lip 8 substantially parallel to each other as shown at 1010 and thence flare outwardly as shown at 11'-11 until they meet the 1i 9. The walls 11-11 are substantially fins with the lip 8, but the lip 9 is terminated slightly thereabov'e so as to form a small crevice at 12 when the device is applied to a floor. i

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, inclusive. the collecting nozzle is hollow and inside the same is supported. a kind of skeleton filler having a throat-portion 13 Which projects up into the narrowest part of the nozzle adjacent to the inlet opening; a semi-cylindrical portion 14 extending transversely of the cleaner and forming a brush chamber; a transverse wall or cur-.

tain 15 between the throat portion and brush chamber, this wall depending to a point'adj acent the floor so as to concentrate the air stream; and upon the forward side of said semi-cylindrical portion a substantially horizontal bridge '16 which extends to the lip 9. Projecting from the lower face of this bridge are the teeth 1717 which are preferably of narrow elongated shape and of such an inclination-to the cleaner axis that a fore-and-aft line touching the end of any tooth will intersect the o osite end of the tooth adjacent thereto. 'Hie inclination of these teeth is such to cause them to lie substantially arallel to the corresponding end wall 11, t e teeth thus being with the plane of the lower edge of the walls 11-11, but at their forward ends they are preferably rounded away so as to merge with the lip 9. At the middle of the inlet mouth, the teeth are preferably omitted for i a short distance as shown at 18 so that rags and like bulky litter can be taken up without obstruction. For the same reason the curtain 15 is preferably notched sl ghtly at this point as shown at 19.

Adjacent each of the end walls the bridge 15 is preferably displaced somewhat to form a channel 20 of greater height for a purpose which will be explained hereafter. I

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 the lower wall 6 of the nozzle appears as before, but the upper wall 5*, instead of being made hollow and having a sheet metal filler supported therebeneath, is depressed so as itself to define an inlet throat and to form the roof 16 of the inlet mouth,

while the teeth 17 may either be cast integrally therewith, or be inserted in the mold so as to have the metal of the casing flow therearound, or may be made of separate pieces welded or inset therein. In fact these teeth may be made of other things than metal,a clinging flexible substance like rubber being particularly advantageous. Whatever be the construction, the effect produced upon running the casing backwards and forwards over the floor will be that 'these teeth exert a kind of scraping motion 'as well as swaying the fibres of the carpet nap from side to side, which tends in a peculiarly eflicient manner to dislodge dirt and litter therefrom, particularly under the influence of the horizontal air stream which enters at the crevice 12 and sweeps between adjacent teeth. Also the combined forward and lateral'movement of the teeth tends to roll such things as thread, lint, and dressmakers scraps into little balls which are very easily moved by the air stream. All

of this litter is blown violently against the inclined wall 6 up which it is swept by the air stream, the lifting effect being greatly enhanced by the narrowing of the passage due to the wall or curtain 15. The purpose of the channels 2020 is two-fold, being first, to equalize the air pressure throughout the nozzle, and second, by providing a concentrated air flow along the walls 11-11 to compensate for a leakage of air into the inlet mouth beneath those walls. g

Owing to the very large area of this in letmouth, the total adhesion of the same to the floor covering is veryv great, notwithstanding that the teeth 1717 and the slot great difliculty. This difliculty can be overcome by suitably. adjusting the vertical height of the'nozzle but such adjustment is inconvenient and it is very seldom that a user is found who understandswhat adjustment should be made and when and why. In addition, experience shows that the nozzle can profitably be depressed more upon the back stroke than upon the forward stroke, which a fixed adjustment does not permit.

My invention comprehends the provision of a chassis or wheeled carriage for the support of the cleaner casing with which may be combined a means for automatically fixingthe elevation of the cleaner upon the forward stroke and allowing the same to be depressed upon the rearward stroke, one embodiment of my idea being as follows:

This frame or chassis, in the form here rear and a transverse cross-piece 27 at the front. Three carrying wheels are shown, one a caster 26 at the rear, pivoted to the member 25, and two wheels 29, 29 pivoted on the gudgeons 28, of brackets 28, carried by the side members 21 near their forward ends. This chassis is connected to the casing by having its side members 21, pivoted at 22 upon a transverse horizontal pin or stud seamed to a bracket 23 carried by the cleaner casing. In this embodiment the connection inquestion includes a toggle joint arrangement. the pin or stud having pivoted thereon a link 32 whose opposite ,end is articulated by the stud 31, to a link 30 which is pivoted to the member 21. vThe arms 34 of the handle fork are here shown as applied to the studs 31, the arrangementv being such that a forward push on the handle tends to straighten the toggle as shown in Fig. 3, until arrested by the stop 33. Thus obstacle or reduce the suction effect. The

downward movement of the inlet mouth can be arrested eitherby its contact with the floor or 'by an adjustable stop, carried by one part'and engaging the other, here typified by the screw 36. It will be understood that I' do not limit myself to a toggle connection between the chassis and casing,

and that'the'adjustable stop here shown is not limited to such a combination.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,1 haveshown a. cylindrical brush comprising a body 40 lo- 1 cated in a chamber 14 and having shaft extensions 41 projecting outwardly through a least three floor-supported carryin toggle joint.

vertical slots 42 formed in the end walls 11. To one or each of these extensions is secured a belt pulley 43 connected by means of a belt 44 to a grooved extension 45 carried by the adjacent wheel 29. A fixeddistance between the brush and wheel is-maintained by a radius rod'46 swiveled upon each of the gudgeons 28 inside of the corresponding wheel and having at its free end an aperture receiving the shaft 41. This arrangement permits the brush to adjust itself in height inde ndently of the frame or chassis.

Wlfile I have described my invention in detail I do not confine myself to those-details except as the same are recited in the "claims heretii annexed, or rendered necessary by the prioristate of the art, since I am aware many changes in the construction and arrangement can made without departing from the scope of my inventive idea or sacrificing the advantages of my improvements.

'Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In asuctioncleaner, a frame having at wheels, a casing pivoted to said frame and aving a collectin nozzle formed with-a downwar 1y facing in et month, an ad'ustable supporting connection between said rame and said casing additional to the pivot, and an-operatmg handle for said cleaner.

2. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging carrying wheels, a casing 'supported b said frame and having a collecting nozzle ormed with a downwardly facin inlet mouth, and an operating handle, sai handle being, connected to said casing and frame'by movable means which upon forward movement of said handle'relativel'y to said casing and frame will raise said cas1ng..

3. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging carrying wheels, 'a casing supported by said frame and havin a collecting 'nozzle formed with ado'wnwar 1y facing" in% let mouth, a to gle joint having its end connected to said ame and easing res ctively and an operating handle pivot to 4. In a suction cleaner, a' frame having floor-engaging carrying wheels, a/casin located above said frame and having a co ecting nozzle formed with-a downwardl facing inlet mouth, said casing being inova ,le vertically relatively to said frame adjustable meansi'carried by said frame an serving to limit the downward movement ofsaid casing relatively thereto, links pivoted to said casing and to said frame and arranged to. limit the upward movement of said casing, anioperating handle, and connections between said handle and links whereby a forward movement of said handle will tend to. raise said,

casing. Y r

n a suctio cleaner; a framehavirig a pair of floorngaging llers at its forward end, located one on each side thereof and a single central roller at the rear thereof, acasing having a collecting nozzle rojecting beyond the forward end of said rame, having a downwardl facing inlet mouth, said casing being pivote to said frame u on a horizontal axis at" a point removed rom said inlet mouth, and means for moving said nozzle relatively to said frame to vary the height of said inlet mouth above the floor. 6. In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging rollers, a casing pivoted totherear part of said frame and having a collecting 'nozzle' roj'ecting beyond the forward end. of sai frame, said nozzle having adownwardly-facing inlet mouth, a pair of toggle joints pivoted to said casing and to i saidframe, one'at eachside thereof, said toggle joints being adapted to buckle rearwardly, and a'handle having a forked'en'd, one arm of which is articulated to each of the tines of the toggle joints. I 7 In a suction cleaner, a frame having floor-engaging rollers, a casing pivoted to the rear part of saidframe and having a collectthe toggle joints, 'and a set screw carried by the forward part of said frame and adapted to enga saidcasing when said toggle joints arebro en. v 8. Ina suction cleaner, a casing having a downwardly facing inlet mouth, carrying wheels supporting'said casing, an operating handle for moving said casing about the surface whereon .it is supported b said wheels and connections 'between sai wheels" and handle operative upon increase in'opposition to the forwardmovement of saidcasing by v means of said handle to elevate said suction mouth further 'above' the surface on which sa d carrying wheels rest. i '9. In a suction cleaner a frame having ooriengaging carrying wheels one of which is a 1 caster wheel, acasing'pivoted to said frame a and hav ng a collecting-nozzle formedwith a downwardlyv facing inlet mouth which j overhangs close to the 'floorfiand a handle' plvoted to said frame and pro'ecting over 129 said caster wheel, said casing an frame each l comprising an independent rigid structure.

10. In a suction c aner, 'in combination, "a metal-frame or chassis having at least three floor-engaging thereto injgpporting relation, an operating handle pivo to 'said frame upon a transverse horizontal axis, and a cleaner casingpivoted to. said frame and havin a fan chamber and; a collecting nozzle, t e latter 130 carrying wheels pivoted 1 25 overhanging the forward end of said frame and formed with a horizontal inlet mouth located closely a bove the floor.

11. In a suction cleaner, in combination, a

frame or chassis having at least three'floorengaging carrying wheels pivoted thereto in supporting relation, a fan casing located abovesaid frame or chassis, and having a collecting nozzle which overhangs one end thereof and is formed with a horizontal inlet mouth at its. end, and a pair of spaced supports for said casing located at different distances from said inlet mouth, one of said supports comprising a hinge connection between said casing and chassis with its axis horizontal and parallel to the inlet mouth, and the center of gravity of said casing being located between said supports.

12. In a suction cleaner, in combination,

a frame having at least three wheels ar 13. In a suction cleaner, a substantially triangular frame having a wheel at each corner, one of said wheels being a caster" and pivoted to said frame upon'a vertical axis, a cleaner casing carried by said frame and havin a collectin nozzle which overhan I the forward part of the frame which is opposite said caster, an operatinghandle for said cleaner which projects in the opposite' direction from said nozzle, and means for adjusting the height of said nozzle relatively to the plane on which said wheels rest.

14. In a suction cleaner, in combination, rigid frame, carrying wheels journaled thereto. a cleaner casing pivotally mounted upon said frame on a substantially horizontal axis, said casing having a fan chamber and motor rigidly connected together and also a nozzle which projects beyond the frame and is provided with a downwardly i'acing inlet mouth, and means for moving said casing about its pivot whereby the dis- -tance of said inlet mouth from thefloor is varied.

15. In a SIICUOH cleaner, the combination wlth'a casing comprlslng a motor-chamber,

fan-chamber, and collecting-nozzle, arranged in the order named and constituting a rigid structure, of a rigid frame approximately triangular in shape secured beneath said casing with one corner of the same substan: tially beneath the end of said motor casing v and the other corners located near said nozzle. carrying wheels pivoted to the last twocorners upon a horizontal transverse axis, and a caster journaled in the firstccorner upon a vertical axis.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM v, 0BR. 

